Draped curtain



Jan. 13, 1942. L, H. WATSON 2,269,964-

DRAPED CURTAIN Filed June 18, 1940 J \9 6,8

u INVENTOR fi wwfizzfi I W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 DRAPED CURTAIN Laura H. Watson, Ross Township,

Allegheny County, Pa.

Application June 18, 1940, SerialNo. 341,148

1 Claim.

My invention consists of certain new and useful improvements in draperies or curtains for windows, doorways, archways and the like, and it more particularly relates to such curtains which are arranged in pairs and are supported from above so that they may hang vertically to close the window opening or may be parted to be drawn aside and draped.

Among the objects of my invention are the following.

The provision of a draped curtain arrangement wherein the curtains may be readily dropped to close the window or parted to the desireddegree and symmetrically draped to either side.

The provision of closure means which will connect the adjacent vertical edges of the curtains in such a manner as to prevent the direct passage of light and air into the room and which will also permit the parting of the curtains to any desired degree so that they may be symmetrically draped to either side.

The provision of means for automatically parting the curtains by the separation of their lower ends and without requiring the unfastening or unsnapping of fasteners of any kind.

The provision of means for preventing the direct entrance of air into the room as in the case of hospitals or other public institutions, and the directing of the air from the open or partially open window towards the ceiling, where it may escape into the room without directing a draft upon the occupants.

Other objects will appear from the following description.

For this and other purposes I have invented a new and improved draped curtain structure wherein the twin curtains are hung from their upper ends, as from a curtain pole or other support, which is preferably spaced away from the top of the opening. The adjacent vertical edges of the curtains are provided with tapes or strips of textile material carrying the interlocking bars of the zipper fastener upon which is movable the zipper slide member arranged when moved downwardly to interlock the bars and progressively fasten the edges of the curtains together, but when moved upwardly to progressively unfasten said edges and permit the curtains to be parted.

The slide member is arranged to be automatically moved upwardly as the lower portions of the curtains are parted, thus requiring no manual manipulation of the slide member in the unfastening operation, but the slide member is moved downwardly in response to force supplied thereto, as by a pull cord.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the principles of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation. showingthe curtains applied to a window and dropped with their adjacent edges fastened together from bottom to top.

Fig. 2 is a similar View but showing the curtains parted and draped to either side.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 33 in Fig. 1 and showing the disposition of the curtains relative to the window.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in elevation showing the arrangement'of the slide member of the zipper fastening means.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional details showing different locations of the fastener tapes relative to the curtains.

Referring to the drawing, l and 2 represent 7 the upper and lower sashes of a window, the sill of which is indicated at 3 and the top member of the window frame at 4. 5 represents a cornice which may be employed for the purpose of ornament or finish.

At the top of the window is mounted the support 6, which may be a rod, and which is spaced away from and parallel with the top of the window, being supported as by the brackets I. Preferably the support 6 is concealed by the corners 5. The upper ends of the twin curtains 8-8 may be provided with the usual hems through which the support or rod 6 is threaded.

The adjacent edges of the two curtains 8 are preferably fastened together at the top, although they may be left unattached, if desired, so that they may be slid away from each other.

Attached, as by sewing to the adjacent vertical edges of the twin curtains 8-8, are the zipper fastener tapes 99 which carry the interlocking fastener bars Ill, which bars are interlocked by the movement of the slide member II in one direction and unlocked by the movement of the slide member in the opposite direction.

I arrange that the slide member ll interlocks the bars ID as the slide is moved downwardly and unlocks said bars as the slide is moved upwardly. Thus as shown in Fig. 4 the slide member is inverted from the position in which it is usually placed when employed for opening and closing partings or openings in garments.

I2 is a pull cord attached to the slide member and of sufficient length so that it may be conveniently reached at all times by one standing on the floor.

By inverting the slide member H from its usual position into that shown in Fig. 4, while a downward pull must be exerted on the slide member to progressively fasten the edges of the curtains together, the mere drawing apart of the edges of the curtains at the bottom will cause the slide member to automatically move upwardly into the desired position, such as illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus by merely drawing the curtains apart from the bottom, the exact extent of parting may be obtained and the curtains may then be draped to either side of the window and supported as by means of the loops or other members l3.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the tapes 9 sewed to the rear surface of the curtains and partially exposed. In such case by showing contrasting colors of tape and curtain, an ornamental effect may be obtained.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the tapes flush with the edge of the curtain so that the tapes do not appear from the inside of the room.

In Fig. 6 I have shown the tapes positioned sufficiently back of the edge of the curtains so that the edges of the curtains will meet when the curtains are fastened together. This latter arrangement is particularly useful where it is desirable to prevent the passage of light either into or out of the room.

Very frequently, as in the case of hospitals and public institutions, it is desired to ventilate the room without directing a draft horizontally on the occupants. I have provided for this by spacing my curtains away from the window sashes so that either the upper or lower sash may be partially or fully opened, and the air will pass upwardly behind the closed and fastened curtains and escape at the top of the room as indicated by the curved arrow in Fig. 3. Moreover if the curtains be too short to reach the floor, the air entering through the window would pass downwardly and escape from behind the curtains adjacent the floor. Under such circumstances it is preferable to have the slide fastener extend to substantially the bottom edge of the curtain so as to retard the entrance of currents of air from the room to the space behind the curtains.

With the use of my invention it is evident that a shade for the window is unnecessary, as the curtains may be closed together either for their full length or for such portion of the same as may be desired to exclude the light from outside, thus serving the full purpose of the conventional shade.

I claim:

In drapery for windows and the like, the com bination of a horizontally disposed support, such as a rod spaced from and parallel to the top of the window above the opening, a pair of curtains secured at their top edges to said support and hanging below the window sill for boxing in the window opening, and a slide fastener arranged to connect and to vary the parting between the curtains whereby the curtains may be attached together along their adjacent vertical edges for the full length thereof to complete the boxing enclosure of the window opening and to prevent the direct entrance of light and air and to direct the currents of air upwardly toward the ceiling between the curtains and the window opening.

LAURA H. WATSON. 

